Siame Tasha, Muzandu Kaampwe, Mulenga Keagan K, Dzombe Catherine B
University of Zambia, Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Michigan State University, Department of Forestry, Environmental Science & Policy Program, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, East Lansing MI, 48824, USA E-mail:
J Water Health. 2025 May;23(5):615-629. doi: 10.2166/wh.2025.343. Epub 2025 Apr 1.
Groundwater contamination by lead (Pb) occurs commonly in historically mined regions and presents health risks to exposed residents. Poor documentation of elevated Pb levels in underserved regions prevents the development of environmental contamination policies and interventions. This study investigates Pb contamination and associated carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks in Makululu, a large compound near the former Pb mine in Kabwe City, Zambia. We analyzed 34 drinking groundwater samples from hand pump boreholes ( = 21) and shallow wells ( = 13). Pb concentrations exceeded WHO and USEPA standards for safe drinking in 100% of boreholes (median = 0.15 mg/L) and 77% of shallow wells (median = 0.06 mg/L). Linear regression analysis identified temperature and depth as key predictors of Pb concentrations, with higher temperatures correlating with increased Pb levels ( = 0.008), and deeper boreholes (50-100 m) exhibiting significantly higher Pb concentrations ( = 0.007) than shallow wells (10 m). Health risk assessments revealed that adults consuming borehole water had an average daily dose of 0.005 mg/kg/day of Pb exceeding WHO thresholds, with hazard quotients (HQ > 1) indicating non-carcinogenic risks. The findings highlight the urgent need for policies to mitigate environmental pollution, enforce water quality standards to reduce Pb levels and protect public health in Makululu.
在历史上有过采矿活动的地区，铅（Pb）对地下水的污染很常见，这对接触到污染的居民构成健康风险。服务欠缺地区铅含量升高的记录不完善，阻碍了环境污染政策和干预措施的制定。本研究调查了赞比亚卡布韦市前铅矿附近的一个大型居民区马库卢卢的铅污染情况以及相关的致癌和非致癌健康风险。我们分析了来自手压泵钻孔（n = 21）和浅井（n = 13）的34份饮用地下水样本。100%的钻孔（中位数 = 0.15毫克/升）和77%的浅井（中位数 = 0.06毫克/升）中的铅浓度超过了世界卫生组织（WHO）和美国环境保护局（USEPA）规定的安全饮用水标准。线性回归分析确定温度和深度是铅浓度的关键预测因素，温度越高，铅含量越高（p = 0.008），深度为50 - 100米的钻孔中的铅浓度（p = 0.007）显著高于浅井（10米）。健康风险评估显示，饮用钻孔水的成年人平均每日铅摄入量为0.005毫克/千克/天，超过了世界卫生组织的阈值，危害商数（HQ > 1）表明存在非致癌风险。研究结果凸显了迫切需要制定政策来减轻环境污染，执行水质标准以降低铅含量，保护马库卢卢居民的公共健康。
